Senior citizens free Chardham Yatra to starts from 11 May

The state has announced Char Dham Yatra to be free of cost for the pilgrims with the age of 65 yrs and above. The pilgrims will have to get themselves registered to benefit from the scheme for which the forms will be available May 1 onwards in tehsil’s. ‘My elderly, my pilgrimage’ scheme is for people of over 65 years of age who want to visit Gangotri and Badrinath which are connected to road with no charges.

Willing pilgrims can submit the application to the regional tourist office till May 5. The travel free pilgrimage for elderly people will start from May 11. DM Ravinath Raman directed the officials to complete arrangements on time. Transportation Department was directed to check for appropriate arrangement of sufficient buses. He said the arrangement of travel of pilgrims will be done by roadways and their food facility will be taken care by GMVN.

Before sending the pilgrims to the yatra a health check up of all the devotees will be done. Instructions of providing health certificate verified by primary health centers of block and tehsil are also given. Pilgrims will also be required to attach age certificate along with application form. The regional tourism officials instructed to prepare a proposal for funds to be spent on travel. The meeting was attended by Vikasnagar SDM Mohan Singh Barniya, Chakrata SDM Ashok Kumar Pandey, Regional Tourism Officer YS Gangwar, CMO Dr. DC Chakrpani, RTO Dinesh Pandey and GMVM GM DL Rana.

News Source : Hindustan, Dehradun